NRAO

Main Camera

The NEAR (i.e. your) site's "main" camera is the one built into the top of its Polycom ViewStation video conferencing unit. This self-focusing camera is controlled by the ViewStation remote control.


Polycom ViewStation

You get control of this camera by default when you first connect a video conferencing call to another site.

More generally, you have control of this camera whenever the lens in the Camera Icon Camera icon at the top right of the TV monitor faces towards you when you pick up the ViewStation remote control.

If you do not see the Camera Icon facing towards you when you pick up the ViewStation remote control, press Near Button once on the ViewStation remote control to take control of the camera.

Main Camera Pan/Zoom

To adjust the pan (left, right) or tilt (up, down) of the camera, use the corresponding Arrow Buttons arrow buttons on the ViewStation remote control.

To adjust the zoom, use the button on the ViewStation remote control.

(+) to go closer, (-) to widen field.

If the camera does not respond:

  • pick up the ViewStation remote control,
  • press Near Button NEAR.
The Camera Icon should appear, lens facing towards you, in the top right corner of the TV monitor.

Main Camera Presets

You can set and store up to ten presets (camera pan and zoom settings) for the main camera, then recall them with number buttons 0 through 9 on the ViewStation remote control.

To set a preset:

  • Pan/zoom the camera as desired using the ARROW and/or ZOOM buttons on the ViewStation remote control
  • Press Select Button SELECT
  • A message "Press 0-9 to store a preset" will appear on the TV monitor. (Existing presets are shown as gold numbers, unused presets as grey numbers.)
  • Press a number button on the remote control to assign the current pan/zoom settings that to that numbered preset.
  • Existing presets can be overwritten by new ones.

Main Camera Auto Voice Tracking

The main camera can automatically track towards whoever is speaking. The voice detector for this function is in the camera unit (not in the microphone pods). It is important that people face the main camera if they want their voices to be detected!

The first time that the main camera moves to an individual it may take several seconds of continuous speech to locate them. After that, it will pick out their position more quickly (if the speaker stays in the same place).

The main camera can also be set to track only to its preset positions (this may be more satisfactory than fully automatic tracking, because of echoes from the ceilings).

  • To have the camera track freely toward whoever is talking, press the dark blue Auto Button button on the ViewStation remote control ONCE.
  • To have the camera track to the preset camera position closest to the speaker, press the dark blue Auto Button button TWICE.
    (The "Near Camera" icon on the TV monitor will then show gold balls, to represent the preset camera positions, as well as the camera.)
  • AUTO voice tracking will be disabled if you pan, tilt, or zoom the camera manually.

The success of voice tracking depends on your room acoustics, on how clearly people speak (especially if they are sitting far from microphones) and on the level of other sounds in the room. It will work better in meetings with small groups than it will in a large audience at a "lunch talk", and with camera presets that have been optimized for the room.

[Contents] [Overview] [Remote Control] [Main Camera] [Sound] [Alternate Video] [NetMeeting] [Connections] [Checklist] [Trouble]

 
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Modified on 2000-Sep-11 by Alan Bridle